open water

[ctom]

I hit the lake from shore [a dock] this morning searching for a crappie bite. The weather could not have been more agreeable at the temps at just under 50 degrees and a noticeable lack of wind when I started fishing. The fishing wasn't furious but I did manage three crappies, all short on length. The 1 1/2" Thump-It grub got the nod in my faithful purple/chartreuse tail combo. 1/32 head set four feet under a float seemed to be the magic.

Lots of diving ducks were using the open water this morning early.  The turkeys were strutting in the fields along the way to the lake. Some broken cloud cover is ushering in a cold front that will end out wonderful spring weather we've been enjoying. As I fished the wind began to click up and when trying to cast into it got me about three feet off the dock I quit and came home. I got in about an hour and a half and will TAKE it. Felt pretty darned good and the smell of lake water was simply perfume to me. The only thing that could have improved this little jaunty would have been exhaust smoke. Or the hum of the electric. Or waves gently lapping on the boat's sides. All good sound and smells, all coming very soon.

[ctom]

Chilly this morning on the water. Air temp was 34 degrees. Water was at 42 degrees and I thought maybe a few more crappies had transitioned into the area but not yet. We're about two weeks early this year so it may be a while yet. Not so much as a pop on the jig. While the landing has opened up and I could get the boat on the lake, the bay is the only area open and the main lake areas downstream are still locked up. I think I'll give it another week of rest and then start hitting it hard. The Mississippi River will see some jigs next week. The walleyes are moving to spawning haunts now and will be available from shore. I let the idiots do battle with the 300 or so boats that are common every day and find plenty of fish right now standing where my feet are dry.